Shirt board



P 1951 B. c. BARTHOLOME 2,568,843

SHIRT BOARD Filed Oct. 8, 1949 Patented Sept. 25, 1951 SHIRT BOARD Bernard 0. Bartholome, Evansville, Ind.

Application October 8, 1949, Serial No. 120,338

6 Claims.

The present invention relate to a shirt board, and more particularly to a device intended to be used as a foundation, upon which a freshly laundered shirt, or a new shirt may be folded to provide a commercial package, in which a collar, attached to the shirt, is protected against crushing or other forms of damage or deformation.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which shall be unitary, and complete within itself, all,

of the functioning parts of the device being integral with each other, so that the user may not be required to assemble parts during the process of mounting a shirt upon the board. A further object of the invention is to provide a unitary device of the character under consideration which will not only provide a reinforcement to protect the shirt collar against crushing, but will also specifically reinforce the separated wings of the collar. A further, and perhaps primary, object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which includes structure of such character that, as the package is completed, the separate ends of the collar band of the shirt will be embraced by the cooperating parts of the shirt board, whereby the collar will be held in closed position independently of the usual fastening means for the collar closure.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however,

that the drawings are illustrative only, and thatchange may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of my invention, shown as a blank ready for shipment to a point of use;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my improved shirt board, in partially folded condition, ready for assembly of a shirt therewith;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, showing a shirt assembled with my improved shirt board, at a first intermediate step in the proces of arranging the board for protection of the collar;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view, showing the board after positioning of the rear tab inside the collar band, and before arranging the wing tab to support the collar wings;

Fig. 5 is a partial perspective view of the completed package; and

r Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 6, 6 of Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen thatmy improved shirt board comprises an integral blank II] which may be formed of cardboard or any suitable, inexpensive, relatively stiff material capable of being readily scored and punched. The blank comprises a body section II having opposite, prefer-- ably parallel rectilinear side edges I2 and I3 and a preferably square end I4.

Near the opposite end of the blank, I provide a score line I5, preferably rectilinear, perpendic-- ular to the side edges I2 and I3, and extending from one of said edges to the other. The score line I5 defines the lower end of a rear wall section I6, Whose side edges I1 and I8 are preferably continuations of the edges I2 and I3 of the: body section II. The upper end of the wall I6 is defined by a second score line I9, preferably parallel with the line I5, the space between the score lines I5 and I9 being at least equal to, and: preferably not greatly in excess of, the heightof an ordinary shirt collar.

The score line I9 defines one end of a top section 20, whose side edges 2I and 22 are preferably continuations of the edges I2 and I3.

A rear tab, indicated generally by the reference numeral 23, is defined by a series 4 of punched out lines and a pair of score lines, to be described; and said tab is located near the free and of the top section 20 and in the laterally median region of said top section.

A out line 24, parallel with the score line I9, and slightly spaced therefrom, joins the ends of a pair of cut lines 25 and 26 parallel with the edges 2| and 22 of the top section 20. The ends of said out lines 25 and 26 remote from the score line I9 merge with a converging pair of cut lines 21 and 28 which extend to a score line 29 parallel with the out line 24 and closely adjacent the remote end of the top section 20. A score line 3|],v parallel with the out line 24, joins the points of juncture of the cut lines 25 and 21 and the cut lines 26 and 28, respectively. The score lines 29 and 30 define a panel 3|, which may be bent out of the-plane of the top section 20, and a toe 32. which may be bent out of the plane of the panel 3|, for a purpose later to become apparent.

At the free end of the median region of the top section 20, there is provided a score line 33' parallel with the score lines I5, I9 and 29; and. said end is further out at 34 and 35 upon diverging lines inclined toward the score line I9. Thus there is defined a wing tab 36, integrally joined to the top section 20 at the score line 33, but capable of being bent bodily out of the plane of the top section 20, said tab being formed to provide separate, oppositely projecting, flexible wings 31 and 38. It is particularly to be noted that the cut lines 34 and 35 are shaped to define spurs 39 and lii laterally bounding th score line 33 and projecting, beyond that line, away from the score line I9.

The board is adapted to be bent about the score line [5 to set the rear wall IS in perpendicular relation to the body section I I; and about the score line [9 to set the top section 20 in parallel relation to the body section I l. The rear tab 23 is adapted to be bent about the score line 29 into substantial parallelism with the rear wall l6; and the toe 32 is adapted to be bent about the score line 30 into substantial parallelism, and face-to-face relation, to the upwardly presented surface of the body section II. The wing tab 36 is adapted to be bent about the score line 33 to bring its median section into substantial parallelism with the panel 3|; and the wings 31 and 38 are independently flexible, in order that they may be tucked beneath the wings of a 0.0 1 f a shirt assembled upon the board.

In Figs. 3 to 6, I have illustrated one procedure whereby a shirt 4| and the board of the present invention may be assembled.

Such a shirt is laid upon .the upper surface of the body section II, with its opening 62 in substantial registry with the longitudinal median line of the body section, and with the back of its collar 43 closely adjacent the score line 15. Now, the lateral edges of the shirt, and its sleeves, are folded about the edges I2 and It of the body -section II; and the tail of the shirt is folded upwardly beneath the body section II, all in accordance with standard practice. Preferably, but not necessarily, one or more of the fastening devices arranged in association with the front opening of the shirt, may be fastened before the shirt is folded upon the board body section; but it is to be particularly noted that the fastening device for the collar band 44 need not be fastened.

Now, the rear wall l6 being turned into perpendicular relationship with the body section I, the tab 23 is turned about the score line 29, and the toe 32 is turned about the score line 30, in

I the manner clearly indicated in Fig. 3; and the top section 20 is swung about the score line I9 to bring said top section into parallel relationship with the body section II, the toe 32 meantime being tucked inside the shirt and into contact with the back 47 of the shirt, the panel 3! thus being brought into engagement with the inner surface of the collar band 6-: in a position to bridge the opening in said collar band. The parts will now lie substantially in the positions illustrated in Fig. l, in which the spurs 39 and 40 overlie the adjacent ends of the collar band 44 at its opening. Now, the wing tab 35 is bent about the score line 33 into substantial parallelism with the panel 3| of the rear tab, and the flexible wing 31 is tucked between the collar band 44 and the collar wing 45, while the wing 38 is tucked between the collar band 44 and the collar wing 46. Thus, the parts will assume the positions illustrated in Figs. and 6 in which the top section, being braced by the panel 3i, which is supported upon the body section II, protects the collar 43 against crushing, the wings 3! and 38 specifically reinforce the collar wings 45 and 46, and the median portion of the wing tab 35 cooperates with the panel 3| to embrace the overlying ends of the collar band, bridging the opening in the collar band, to hold the collar in closed condition.

Alternatively, the tab 23 ma be left undisturbed in coplanar relation with the top section 20 until after the wings 31 and 38 have been tucked under the collar wings 45 and 46, and thereafter the tab 23 may be turned and the toe 32 may be bent to bring the parts into the relative positions of Figs. 5 and 6. Some operators find this alternative procedure preferable to that first described.

The integrality of the various parts of the shirt board materially facilitates the assembly of the completed package; and the fact that the wing tab 36 i integral with the top section 20 and the rear tab 23 confers upon the shirt board as a whole the function of holding closed the collar opening without dependence upon the fastening means incorporated in the collar band, thereby further facilitating assemblage of the package.

I claim as my invention:

1.A shirt board comprising a body section, a rear wall integral with said body section and defined h r f om by a sc e line, a op e t o i tegral with said rear wall and defined therefrom by a second score line substantially parallel with said first-named score line, a rear tab substantially centrally punched from said top section and bounded by a out line substantiall parallel with said last-named score lines, two lateral cut lines substantially perpendicular to said firstnamed out line and extending from the opposite ends thereof away from said score lines, two further out lines leading from the remote ends of said lateral cut lines and converging away from said score lines, and a score line joining the ends of said converging cut lines and substantially parallel with said first-named score line, said tab being provided with a score line joining the points of juncture of said lateral cut lines with said conver in cut lines, and a wing ,tab centrally joined integrally to the free end of said top sec. tion, said wing tab providing laterally divergent flexible wings inclining outwardly and toward said second score line.

2. A shirt board comprising a body section, ,a rear wall integral with said body section and arranged at one end of said body section in substantially perpendicular relation thereto, and a top section integral with said rear wall and arrangedat the end thereof remote from said body section in substantially parallel relation to said body section, a rear tab integral with said top section and comprising a panel depending from said top section at a point substantiall midway between the lateral edges of said top section and near the end thereof remote from said rear wall, and a toe integral with said panel, arranged at the end of said panel remote from said top section, and lying in face-to-face relation with said body section, and a wing tab centrally integrally attached to the free end of said top section and providing two oppositely, laterally extending, flexible wings free for flexure relative to said top section.

3. The shirt board of claim 2 in which the free end of said top section is defined by'laterallydivergent .edges inclining symmetrically away from the point of attachment of said wing tab and toward said rear wall.'

4. The .shirt vboardnf claim 3 in which the rear edgesof said wing tab wings lie, at times, in coincidence with said laterally-divergent edges of said top section.

"5. The shirt board .of claim 2 in which the region of attachment between said top section and said wing tab is defined by a score line substantially parallel with said rear wall, and is laterally bounded by two spurs integral with said top section and projecting beyond said score l ine away from said rear wall. N

-6. 1} commercial package comprising a shirt having an-attached ollar incliiding a'collarband and separated wings, said shirt and collar being provided with a front opening and means for closing said opening, and a reinforcing board comprisin a body section, said shirt being folded about said board body section with the midportion of the shirt back resting on one surface of said board body section, the shirt opening arranged substantially to coincide with the median longitudinal line of said body section, and the shirt collar upstanding from said body section surface, said board further providing a rear wall substantially perpendicular to said body section and integral therewith, said wall having a dimension, perpendicular to said body surface, at least equal to the degree of upstanding projection of said collar from said surface and engaging the back of said collar, said board further being provided with a top section integrally attached to the free end of said rear wall and having a median dimension, in the direction of said body section median line, substantially equal to the diameter of said collar measured from said collar opening, said top section being substantially parallel with said body section, the free end of said top section retreating laterally toward said rear wall in both directions from said median line, a rear tab integrally depending from said top section medially thereof near the free end thereof and comprising a panel disposed in contact with the inner surface of said collar band and bridging the opening thereof, and an integral toe lying in contact with the back of said shirt and in faceto-face relation with said body section surface,

and a wing tab integral with said top section at the median point of the free end thereof and provided with a mid section and two oppositelyextending flexible wings, the mid section of said wing tab being substantially parallel with said rear tab panel, engaging the outer surface of said collar band and bridging the opening thereof, and said wings being tucked between said collar band and the respective wings of said collar and cooperating with said rear ta'b panel to hold said collar front opening closed independent of said firstnamed closing means.

BERNARD C. BARTHOLOME.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,314,213 Hennessy et al Mar. 16, 1943 2,458,998 McFall Jan. 11, 1949 

